George James Woodbury

A photograph of George James Woodbury (born 1831) has not been discovered at this stage. Photography in that era was expensive and done mostly in professional studios. However, a photograph of George's older brother William is available (see the photo gallery page on this site).

George James Woodbury married Sarah Elizabeth Pate Charter (born 1837 in Hertfordshire, England) at his parent's property at "Bathurst Reach" on the Hawkesbury River in 1855. The property was about 2 miles upstream from Wisemans Ferry. Together George and Sarah had 11 children, as follows:

• Matthew William, born in 1856, registered in Windsor

• Caroline, born in 1857 in Lower Hawkesbury

• Aquilla, born in 1859 in Lower Hawkesbury

• Martha, born in 1860 in the Hunter Region

• James, born and died in1862 in the Hunter Region

• Gabriel, born in 1864 in the Hawkesbury Region

• Solomon, born in 1865 in the Hawkesbury Region

• Abel, born in 1867 in the Hawkesbury Region

• Amos, born in 1870 in the Hunter Region

• Emma, born in 1871 in Brisbane Water

• Rhoda, born in 1873 and died in 1874 on the "NW Slopes and Plains" (Inverell).

It is unclear exactly where George and Sarah and their family were living during the 17 year period over which the children were born. The property at Bathurst Reach was a grant to Richard (Snr) and he built a house there which he later sold to his son William, but Richard remained there with his wife until his death 17 years later, in June 1867. George lived on that property for a period, perhaps until his mother moved further down-river to stay with family. 

We know that by about 1880, George and Sarah Woodbury and all their surviving children had  settled in Inverell, NSW.  Their oldest child, Matthew William, married Jessie Ellen (Charter) in Inverell in 1881. 

We also know that by 1887, Matthew's father and mother and he and his brothers Solomon, Abel and Gabriel were active with the fledgling Salvation Army in Inverell.  The father, George, Solomon and one of his brothers marched in the first Salvation Army street march in 1887, at which they were pelted with eggs and rotten fruit by the some of the locals opposed to the Army because of their support for the temperence movement. In later life, Matthew (and Jessie) donated land in Vivian Street in Inverell to build the Salvation Army citadel. See the page about Matthew William Woodbury (1856 - 1933) on this site .

George Woodbury died in Inverell in 1905 at the age of 74. Sarah died in Inverell in February 1919 at the age of 82. Sarah and George are buried together in Inverell cemetery. Note the photograph of George and Sarah's gravestone in Inverell Cemetery in the photo gallery page on this site. The photo was provided by Ian Woodbury (Sydney).

Page created on 26 August 2024.